Artwork in the room
Daiva Staškevičienė, born in 1968 in Vilnius, is a Lithuanian artist known for her detailed and imaginative work.
Daiva Staškevičienė’s artistic journey began in childhood and later continued through formal studies, culminating in a Master’s degree in Graphic Art at the Vilnius Academy of Arts. Having studied under the prominent Lithuanian graphic artist Leonas Lagauskas, her work is grounded in precision, structure, and strong composition.
Her graphic work is highly detailed, yet it goes beyond technical skill. Carefully constructed scenes open into a symbolic, subtly surreal world, where elements drawn from imagination, nature, and folklore emerge gradually. Each work reveals new layers over time.
Alongside printmaking, she has developed a strong painting practice. Working in oil, Staškevičienė employs the glazing technique, building her images through thin, translucent layers to create a rich sense of materiality. Her figures—faces that do not represent specific individuals—feel timeless and slightly mythical. Set against nearly flat, undefined backgrounds, they seem to float between surface and space.
Her work connects to the ideas of André Breton, who described surrealism as a meeting point between dream and reality. In her work, this connection appears gently, creating images that feel both familiar and subtly uncanny.
Graphic works are produced in limited editions, while paintings are unique pieces, making them especially valued by collectors.
About this artwork+
The painting presents a profile portrait of a serene woman integrated with a complex and intricate array of organic and mechanical forms that surround and emerge from her head. These forms resemble elements of nature and fantastical objects alike: floral patterns, twisting vines, mechanical parts, and detailed adornments. The woman's expression is calm, almost meditative, against the backdrop of this vibrant, chaotic amalgamation. Beside her, smaller sketches include a figure that appears malevolent with wide eyes and a pointed beard, and a simpler depiction of a bulbous plant or bulb, minutely detailed, capturing an essence of both growth and decay. The colors are subtle yet rich, emphasizing earth tones with hints of red and blue, creating a sense of depth and complexity.
